An Australian woman has relived the shocking phone call she received from police saying her alleged rapist would go free because she had vague memories of the harrowing ordeal.
Bec from Tasmania met a man in the bar where they shared a bottle of wine before he bought her a few more drinks.
Bec says things got blurry there, and she remembers him saying, “Let’s get you out of here” and insisting she get in his car.
Her next ‘very small’ memory is of rape.
Bec went to the police the next day to report it after her alleged rapist told her they had had unprotected sex when she texted him to ask what happened.
“Sorry you can’t remember,” he allegedly texted her.
Bec claimed she met her alleged rapist at a bar where the pair shared a bottle of wine (stock image)
Tasmania made history as the first Australian state to introduce affirmative consent laws. These laws require that both parties involved in a sexual encounter must give explicit and voluntary consent through clear verbal or nonverbal communication.
However, a complication arises when one person involved is too drunk to actively give consent.
Despite a friend filming Bec’s distress the day after the alleged rape and the text message from her alleged perpetrator, police believe the case was not strong enough to proceed as she did not appear drunk in the CCTV footage.
“Despite checking all the boxes, it still wasn’t good enough,” Bec continued.
Alleged rape victim Bec (photo) has fought for justice for a year
‘The question that actually remained was: in which cases is rape prosecuted?
‘Is it just violent? Is it when it’s a complete stranger? Is it just sober, or is there no alcohol or drugs involved? It has to tick these very small boxes, which we know most rapes don’t.”
Bec claims she heard another woman also had a “disturbing sexual experience” with the same man during her years-long search for justice.
She learned of the devastating news that her alleged rapist would not appear in court when she received a phone call at work.
“The feedback from the DPP was, you don’t remember, the CCTV footage could be used for unlawful consent,” Bec recalled.
If you or someone you know needs support, call the 24-hour national sexual assault, family violence and domestic violence hotline on 1800 737 732.
Tasmania Police told Bec her case could not go ahead, partly because of her hazy memory (stock image)